Sweep-rake.



1. H. COPE.

SWEEP RAKE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 26. 1914.

1 69 ,393,, Patented J une 11, 1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

m [Memes J. H. COPE.

SWEEP'RAKE.

APPLICATION FILED BEc.2 B. m4.

1 1 26 9 9 3 F, I Patented June 11, 1918.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

We fat/5 Jar.

JOSEPH H. GQPE, 0F WINDSOR, GOLOU.

' ear To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH H. Corn, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Windsor, county of Weld, and State of Colorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sweep-Rakes; and ll do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the characters of reference marked thereon, which forma part of this specification. 15'

My invention relates generally to inn provements in sweep rakes, but more especially to a special construction of tooth for use in connection with these rakes. Specifically, the tooth is composed of sheetmetal and formed hollow, the material employed giving the tooth sufficient rigidity for the purpose. An important feature of the in 1 vention consists in the construction whereby teeth of this character are secured to the manner as to rake head or the forward portion of the rake. The rear extremities of these teeth are connected with the rake head in such a permit the forward portions of the teeth to move upwardly as well as laterally in either direction. This is an important feature, since it is highly desirable where a metal tooth is employed, that the latter have suficient' movement to avoid as far as possible any tendency to bend the tooth. To this end, the rear extremity ofeach tooth is connected with the rake head by a special shackle whose forward extremitiy passes around the rake tooth forward 5t cation, is equa ehead in such a manner as to form a fulcrum to permit both lateral and vertical in the rear of its forward extremityincludes a sprlng extending downwardly and con nected with the rake tooth near the rear extremity of the latter. This sprlng, while it has a tendency to support the rake tooth in its normal position, allows for a limited degree of both vertical and lateral oscilla-- tion upon the forward part of the shackle as a fulcrum.

It should be understood that myimproved the rake tooth 9. If desired to obtain a freer shackle construction for connecting or securing the rake teeth to the head in such a manner as to piarmit theaforesaid'communiy applicable to specific forms rake equipped wit tion shown in tube.

Specification of Letters ratent." l wb f fl J jlfl jlgflg Application filed. December 26, 1914. Serial Ito. erases.

of teeth other than that herein illustrated and described.

Having briefly outlined my improved construction, I will proceed to describe the same in deta1l reference being made to the accompanylng drawing. In this drawing,

Figure 1 is a to my improvement.

Fig. 2 1s a detail sectional view of my improved rake tooth.

Fig. 3 is a cross sectlon taken on the line 3--3I, 2;

F1g. 4 is a section taken on the line 4-4, F1g. 1, viewed in the direction of the arrow, the parts being shown on a larger scale.

Fig. 5 1s a to plin view of the construc- 1 Fig. 6 is a sec on taken on the line 67, F1g. 4, looking toward the right.

Fig. 7 1s a section taken on the same line looking toward the left.

F1g.8 is a section taken on the line 8-8, Fi 4, looking toward the left.

he same reference characters indicate the same parts in all the views. Let the numeral 5 designate a sweep rake in 1ts entirety, and 6 the head of this rake. As illustrated in the drawing, the rake head includes a rearwardly located bar 7 and a forwardly located bar 8. The forwardly located bar is preferably composed of a metal Each rake tooth 9 is connected with the rake head in a manner which will now be described. This connection consists of what I will term a shackle 10 comprising a metal plate 12, which is secured to the bars 7 and 8 by means of bolts 13 and 14, WhlCh pass through the bars 7 and 8 respectively, and also through the plate 12. The belt 13 forms a support for a guide bracket 15, which extends beyond the bar 7 and flares outwardly on opposite sides, as shown at 16. The rear portion of the rake tooth 9 engages this guide bracket which permits a limited degree of lateral as well as vertical movement while still maintaining the tooth lateral movement the bracket 17 may be om tted entirely, or the lower portion 19 thereof may be constructed on a larger are,

plan view of a sweep fill ll ll tl lltiii somewhat like that of the bracket 15. Se-

cured to the plate 12 of the shackle by means by means of a relatively heavy wire or rod,

26, the metal of the plate being bent around the said wire at the sides as shown at 27 and at the rear end, as shown at 28, the forward portion of this wire or rod extends downwardly as shown at 29, and underneath the rake tooth forward of the head as shown at 30, this underneath part forming a fulcrum for the rake tooth to permit vertical and lateral oscillation, as heretofore ex of the tooth.

plained.

Where the rake tooth is com osed of metal (see Figs. 2 and 3), it is pre 'erred to form the same of sheet metal, which is bent to approximately. the cylindrical form, the edges bein interlocked as shown at 31 and pressed tig tly together, formin a sort of seam joint. A tooth of-this c aracter is preferably largest at. its rear extremity andtapers forwardly, its forward end beingpointed, as shown at 32. While the aforesaid specific construction of tooth is illustrated, it must be understood that the invention is not limited to this specific mannor of forming, or this precise construction While the metal form of tooth is herein claimed, it must be understood that my improved fastening means or shackle for connecting the tooth to the rake head may be advantageously used with rake teeth formed of other material, though the metallic tooth is believed preferable.

While I have described a single tooth and the manner of connecting the same with the rake head, it must be understood that all of the teeth are substantially identical in construction and this is also true of the means for connecting the same with the rake head. Hence, the description of a single tooth and the shackle construction whereby it is secured to the rake head, is sufiicient for purpose of this specification.

In the use of a rake (see'Fig. 1) having teeth of the construction herein described and connected with the rake head as herein disclosed, it will be understood that whenever occasion arises, as when a rake tooth encounters an obstruction, the forward portion of the tooth may move upwardly and its rear portion beyond the fulcrum move downwardly, as indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 4. Furthermore, any tooth may oscilthe measea late laterally within reasonable limits, but

will always be returned to its normal posit10n as soon as the obstacle requiring such special movement, shall: have been passed or moved aside.

It is believed that a sweep rake equipped with teeth of the construction described and a single tooth strike an obstruction and be raised, the entire rake head must be raised, thus placing undue strain upon the particular tooth which engages the obstruction.

For instance, if a single tooth rides upwardly on a stone or other hard support, instead of yielding, it remains rigid and consequently must raise the whole rake head. In so-doing, the tooth engaging the obstruction will either be broken or subjected to such a strain as may distort it, or bend it out of shape. However. by making provision for flexibly connecting each tooth with the rake head independently of each other tooth, if a single tooth engages an 0bstruction, it may move upwardly and pass over the same, while the other teeth remain in their normal position.

It should also be explained that my 'im proved 'metallic tooth may be employed to equal advantage in connection with the heads of hay stackers and other similar hay tools. However, when. employed in the hay stacker, the flexible connection might be employed or not, as desired.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is,- a

1. A sweep rake whose teeth are movably connected with the head to permit both vertical and. lateral oscillation, the movement of the teeth being independent of one another. 1

2. In a rake the combination with the rake head, of a tooth yieldably connected therewith to permit both vertical and lateral oscillation, independently of the rake head and of the other teeth. 1

3. The combination with a rake head, a tooth, and a shackle for connecting the tooth with the. head, said shackle includin a loop extending underneath the tooth in ront of the head, the tooth being loosely mounted in the loop and 1ylieldable means for connecting the tooth to t e head in the rear of the loop.

4. The combination with the relatively stationary framework of the rake head, of a tooth whose rear portion extends underneath said framework, a shackle applied to the ally as they extend downwar naeases top of said framework and including a forward loop through which the rake tooth passes, the'tooth being loosely mounted in the loop and a spring connected with, the tooth in the rear of the loop.

5. In a sweep rake, the combination with the relatively stationary body part of the rake head and the teeth, of means for connecting each tooth with the head, said means comprisin a shackle including a forwardly located fu crum on which the tooth is loose]. mounted and a springin the rear thereo said spring being connected-with the tooth and body part. I

6. The combination with the teeth and a relatively stationary body part of the rake head, including transversely arranged front and rear bars, of means for connecting each tooth with the said body, said means comprising brackets mounted on'the bars, extending downwardly therefrom and forming top bearin and guides for the tooth, a shackle inclu ing a top plate," a spring connected with the plate at one extremity, -ex-.

tending downwardly and rearwardly therefrom, its opposite extremity being secured to the tooth, and a forwardly located fulcrumsupporting the tooth from below.

, lhe combination w1th the teeth and the relatively stationary body part of the rake head, including transversely arranged front and rear bars, of means for connecting each tooth with said body, said means comprising brackets mounted on the'bars, extending downwardly therefrom and formin top bearings and guides for the tooth, the

rear bracket having .a'rms diveiginglatery, and a shackle including a top plate secured to said bars, a spring secured to said plate and to the tooth, and a' rod mounted on .the plate and extending underneath the tooth forwardly of the front bar and constituting a fulcrum for the tooth.

8. The combination with the teeth and the relatively stationary body part ofthe rake head, including transversely arranged front and rear bars, of means for conmeeting. each tooth with said body, said means comprisin brackets mounted on the bars, extendin ownwardly therefrom and forming top earings and guides for the tooth, the rear bracket having arms diverg- 9. in a sweeprake, the combination of the" til head and means for fulcruming the teeth thereon between their extremities to permit oscillatory movement both vertically and laterally.

10. In a rake, the combinationwith the head and the teeth, the head comprising bars, of means for connecting each tooth with the head including a shackle comprising a plate connecting said bars, a spring secured at one end to the plate and at the other end to the tooth, and means adjacent one "of said bars serving as a fulcrum for said tooth.

11. In a rake, the combination with the head and the teeth, of means for connecting .each tooth with the head, said means comvertical movement thereof.

13. In a sweep rake having. a head and substantially straight carrier teeth, the com-- bination with the head and the teeth of means forconnecting each tooth with the under side of the head, said means comprising a depending forwardly located fulcrum for the tooth and a rearwardly located member to support the rear end of the tooth and permit vertical movement of the tooth.

' 14:. In a sweep rake having a head and substantially straight carrier teeth, the combination with the head and the teeth, of means for connecting each tooth with the head, said means comprisin a fulcrum and means on the head connects with the tooth to support the same and permit vertical movement thereof.

15. ][n a sweep rake having a head and substantially straight carrier teeth, the combination withthe head and the teeth, of means for connecting each tooth with the under side of the head, said means comprising a depending fulcrum for the tooth and a member-connected with another portion of the tooth to support the same andpermit vertical movement thereof.

in testimon whereof ll afix my mignature in presence o two witnesses.

JQBSEPH H. GUPE.

Witnesses:

h. fl emu.

Hill 

